Downtown McLean Study To Be Discussed At Virtual Open House

MCLEAN, VA — County officials will provide an update Saturday on the draft comprehensive plan for the McLean Community Business Center, also known as downtown McLean.

The virtual open house will give residents an update into the work to update the comprehensive plan guiding development, including land uses, development intensities, transportation, public facilities, and design standards in the downtown McLean area. The study area is approximately 230 acres centered around the Chain Bridge Road and Old Dominion Drive. According to a newsletter from Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, the last significant review of comprehensive plan recommendations for downtown McLean happened over 20 years ago.

The study began in 2018 with a community visioning process. Hundreds of residents shared their vision for a reimagined downtown McLean and received an idea of what the potential market demand would be for development. Fast forward to today, a draft comprehensive plan is ready for the public to view.

Here's what Foust states about the draft plan in his newsletter:

The draft Plan retains the neighborhood serving aspect of the downtown area but identifies the center of the downtown as an area of taller mixed-use buildings that create a sense of vibrancy and support walkability. A signature urban park is expected to be a major placemaking element in the center of the CBC. Development intensities would taper away from the core area, and existing development intensities around the edge of the CBC are expected to be retained.

County officials expect the downtown McLean study to be completed in the first quarter of 2021. This will include a county staff report, Planning Commission hearing, and Board of Supervisors hearing.

The virtual open house will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Details on participating are available on the McLean Community Business Center study website.